Merchant Card Processing Services

Background
The City of Austin is seeking a qualified company experienced in credit and debit card processing services. The goal of this contract is to provide electronic authorization (Point-of-Sale or virtual), capture, and electronic settlement for various card payment and transaction types. This initiative aims to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of payment processing for the City.

Work Details
The contractor will be responsible for providing merchant card processing services, which include:

- Electronic authorization for credit and debit transactions, both Point-of-Sale and virtual.
- Capture and electronic settlement of transactions.
- Compliance with applicable state, federal, and industry standards including NACHA and PCI DSS.
- Acknowledgment of types of cards accepted and provision of innovative payment acceptance options.
- Detailed descriptions of payment optimization programs aimed at reducing interchange fees.
- Reporting requirements including transaction detail reports, online reporting tools, monthly billing statements, and service provider/gateway acknowledgments.
- Equipment requirements including new or refurbished devices, point-to-point encryption services, warranties, and refresh options for aging devices.
- Security measures to protect cardholder data, including SOC reports and PCI compliance documentation.

Period of Performance
The contract will commence upon award and is expected to continue for a period that aligns with the City’s needs as specified in the solicitation documents.

Place of Performance
The services will be performed within the jurisdiction of the City of Austin.